Members of the Windsor Fire and Rescue Service got a chance to say goodbye to one of their own.
Windsor firefighter Wesley Orr died on January 4 following an off-duty accident in Collingwood. On Wednesday hundreds gathered at Windsor Chapel’s Banwell campus to honour the 25-year-old.
The mood was somber with a few laughs sprinkled in, as friends, family and coworkers shared their fondest stories of Orr, remembering him as an "energetic, genuine, outgoing young man" who loved adventure.
Orr was a member of Windsor fire department for over two and a half years. His co-workers painted a picture of a man who was passionate about his career and always went above and beyond his call of duty.
"What we saw was a remarkably great version of him throughout the fire hall, shift in and shift out," said firefighter John Devlin. "There was nothing generic about Wes, he was by all accounts a very unique individual."
With fire hall shifts 24 hours long, those who worked with Orr looked back appreciatively on all the time they spent with him.
Firefighter John Little said despite their age difference of over 10 years, Orr was able to impact his life and inspire him with his free spirit and optimistic zest for life.
"To call this a tragedy would be a gross understatement. There is now a void in our community and in our fire family that will never be replaced. However, we take solace in knowing that Wes' spirit will continue to shine on in the lives of Windsor Fire brothers and sisters," said Little.
As the funeral came to an end dozens of firefighters lined the driveway to salute Orr's casket.